Welcome to RideApps!

Rideapps.co is a comprehensive collection of all things rideshare!

Whether you’ve got questions about using rideshare as a passenger, becoming a driver, or getting the best value for your money, we’ve got the scoop. We’ve got tips, tricks, and hacks for first-timers as well as seasoned rideshare vets. We at rideapps.co pride ourselves on being passionate members of the rideshare community, and we seek to share our knowledge for the betterment of everyone in the industry.

How Rideshare Companies Work

Ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft use smartphone apps that can work on iOS and Android devices.

These apps require you to sign up and provide personal information such as credit card or PayPal account details, as well as inputting your location and desired destination to get a price quote.

Once you have keyed in your info, the company will provide details of the nearest ride, give you the name of your driver, supply the driver’s rating and inform you about the type of car they are driving.

There are also ways for existing Uber users to earn ride credit, which we will detail for you throughout the site.

What is Rideshare?

Rideshare is a form of car and van pooling that allows commuters and other persons traveling from one place to another, usually within the same locality, to use a smaller number of vehicles to get to the places where they are going.

Ridesharing is not a new concept.

As far back as 1914, car owners in California offered up their empty car seats to passengers and only charged them an amount that was similar to what they would pay had they chosen to use a streetcar.

This form of ridesharing was soon quashed by streetcar owners who complained that ‘jitneys,’ as they were known back then, were causing them to lose business.

Bouncing back…

Rideshare picked up again during WWII due to oil shortages that prompted the U.S government to encourage people to carpool to free up scarce oil resources for military use.

The practice has existed on and off since then but has seen a resurgence in recent years due to the advent of GPS technology, smartphones, and social networks.

These advances have made it easier to plan a driver’s route and arrange pickups for people along that route.

They allow travelers to discover the rideshare services closest to them and request a ride.

Also!

You can share experiences about rideshare on social networks which promotes trust and accountability between drivers and passengers.

Social networks also help to improve service and safety as people share their experiences and influence other rideshare users to pick or reject a particular rideshare provider.

Real-Time Ridesharing

GPS and other advances in technology have revolutionalized how people carpool and share other modes of transportation.

As of 2014, 10% of all passenger transportation involved the use of ridesourcing.

This is where ridesharing comes in.

While safety concerns and personal preference to use one’s vehicle as opposed to sharing continue to make it difficult to influence people to rideshare, oil prices and traffic jams are helping to convince some of them.

Oh, technology.

Technological advances are making it easier to locate the rideshare services closest to you.

This also eases communication with rideshare service providers to request the service and provide feedback to other users as well as having access to other users’ comments on a particular service to select the best rideshare transporter for you.

Real-time ridesharing is simply the process of locating, procuring and utilizing shared ride services from reputable rideshare providers by using GPS and smartphones.

The biggest allure is convenience!

The process is continued by providing feedback on services received via social media to help other people considering selecting a rideshare operator to make the right decision.

This rating system keeps everyone on their best behavior.

Several real-time rideshare operators have come up to meet the demands for safe, efficient and reliable shared ride services by consumers.

We’re proud that Uber brings people together who come from very different backgrounds: whether it’s tourists seeing the sights; co-workers sharing a trip on uberPOOL; or students driving to earn extra money. Everyone can enjoy a five-star ride when people respect each other’s differences and treat their traveling companions the way they’d like to be treated themselves. – Uber.com

Benefits of Using Rideshare Apps

Ridesharing has many advantages to offer to commuters and other people traveling from one destination to another. Lyft vs Uber is a rivalry between the two rideshare giants that goes back the very beginning. Each company has their pros and cons.

Save on Costs

Rideshare uses the concept of carpooling which means that instead of using your car for transportation, you utilize the services of another car owner and pay a small fee.

As a result, you save money that you would have used to maintain your car, paying for gas, buying new insurance and repairing your vehicle if you are involved in an accident.

Further, you may be able to access friendlier rates from insurance companies that give reduced rates to carpoolers.

Health Benefits

Letting someone else drive means you do not have to keep alert to avoid crashing into telephone posts, the driver in front of you or pets that appear from nowhere and whizz across the highway.

Also, knowing that someone else will be driving can allow you to sleep a bit longer because you don’t have to wake up early to check the oil, pass by the gas station and do a million other things that go with running a car.

As a result, you will be more relaxed, less stressed and exhausted.be able to be more productive both at work and at home.

You will be able to be more productive both at work and at home.

Save Time

Using your car for transportation also means that you get to be the designated driver and drop the kids off at school, your Mom off at the hairdresser, your spouse at golf or yoga class or the grocery store and many other places that humans with active lives will visit.

You can use rideshare not just for yourself, but for other members of your family which will free up your time for other important matters.

Also, you will also save time personally as the rideshare driver can use his GPS system to figure out the quickest route to your destination and get you there on time.

It’s a win-win all around.

Improved Air Quality

Fewer cars on the roads mean lower emissions of hydrocarbon gasses that cause air pollution.

The EPA has stated that passenger vehicles and light trucks are most responsible for air pollution, emitting 50% of the nation’s carbon monoxide and 32% of its nitrogen oxide.

These and other greenhouse gasses have been linked to climate change and global warming, as well as the rise in respiratory diseases in cities.

By using rideshare regularly, you are helping to cut down the emission levels of harmful gasses and ultimately improving the environment for everyone.

Over time, the hope is to lessen our country’s (and world’s!) carbon footprint drastically to help reduce some of the damage that has already been done over the years.

Conservation of Resources

Economists estimate that over 50% of the oil used in the United States is used to power automobile vehicles.

More and more people are purchasing cars nationally, and this means greater consumption of oil resources which are non-renewable.

Using rideshare regularly will help to lower this consumption and allow oil resources to be conserved longer for our own and future generations’ use.

Rideshare is an excellent and cost-effective way to get to your destination without too much hassle.

If you have not had the opportunity to use a rideshare service, you can use your smartphone or other Android device to locate the services closest to you, and begin to enjoy the great benefits of rideshare.

Reduced Traffic

Reducing the traffic in cities all across the United States will have a great impact on not only our transportation but our way of life.

Faster travel times will leave more time to spend doing the things we want to be doing like spending time with family or attending a sporting event.

Less traffic congestion is also a good thing for our economy.

As commuting times are lessened, people – especially in large cities – are more apt to go out and do things that boost our economy, such as shopping, spending money at local service businesses, etc.

Reduced traffic also correlates with lessened auto-related accidents, which is a positive result no matter how you look at it.

Get Social

Use the search form below to find helpful information on rideshare apps.